The City of Austin and Austin Police Department, alongside their partner agencies and the Austin-Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (A/TC SARRT), have taken a crucial step to support survivors of sexual assault with the launch of atxbelieves.org. This initiative is part of the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) project and aims to provide easier access to resources for survivors within the community. To spread the word, a public service announcement (PSA) campaign has been rolled out, touching various media platforms including radio, digital, and print.
In a concerted effort to immediately begin to reach survivors, PSAs will be aired on local radio stations such as Bob FM, LaZeta, and KGSR. Equally important, the reach extends to digital terrains through Google Ads and social media platforms maintained by APD and SARRT. Passengers on Cap Metro buses will also witness messages of support, alongside readers of Challenger Newspaper, El Mundo, and The Republiq, making the resources highly visible through a blend of traditional and modern channels.
Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson reinforced the campaign's message and the city's commitment to aiding survivors, articulating in a statement released by the City's official press release, "If you or someone you know are a survivor of sexual assault, we want you to find comfort in knowing that we're here for you and we want to help." Henderson also mentioned that many of the individuals ready to assist are survivors themselves, which adds a profound layer of empathy and understanding to the services provided.
This collaborative initiative underlines the importance of centering survivor well-being by not only providing resources but actively creating a safe space for them to seek help – a space that respects their autonomy, especially regarding decisions to involve law enforcement or not. For those in need, emergency assistance can be reached by calling 9-1-1 connecting with SAFE at 512.267.7233, or by texting "SAFE" to 737.888.7233. The message is clear and unequivocal: You are not alone. We believe you.
The genesis of the CSCRM project, credited for atxbelieves.org's creation, can be traced back to the recommendations from a significant evaluation by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and driven by the outcomes of Smith v City of Austin and Senko v City of Austin (2022) court cases. As a result, APD has been actively working with entities like the A/TC SARRT, local nonprofits, universities, experts, advocates, and survivors to make a national standard of best practice in handling sexual assault cases -- a task reflective of Austin's commitment to support and justice for survivors.
